Meteorological Analysis
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Bonnie originated from a tropical wave which left the African coast on August
14th. The wave continued west under the subtropical ridge after leaving
Africa and gradually organized, becoming a tropical depression on the 19th.
The depression strengthened into tropical storm Bonnie by the 20th and
then skirted the Leeward Islands. Only some minor squalls affected the islands,
as Bonnie was very disorganized at the time. Bonnie then strengthened into a
hurricane on the 22nd, about 200 nm N of Hispaniola. Bonnie continued to
strengthen and reached its peak intensity of 115 mph on the 23rd, about
150 nm E of San Salvador, the Bahamas. Bonnie reached a minimum central of
pressure of 954 mb by the 24th. Bonnie then began to move northerly as it
reached a weakness in the subtropical ridge. The subtropical ridge strengthened
back a bit by the 26th, and steered Bonnie NW into the Carolinas. Bonnie made
landfall in Wilmington, North Carolina with winds just below cat 3 strength on the
27th. Bonnie then weakened into a tropical storm as it moved slowly over the
Carolinas on the 27th and began to turn NE. Bonnie reached water again on the
28th and became a hurricane again. Bonnie then became extratropical over
the open Atlantic on the 30th, about 240 nm SSE of Newfoundland.
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Casualty and Damage Overview
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3 deaths are attributed to Bonnie, with 1 in North Carolina, 1 in Delaware, and
1 in Massachusetts. There were reports of widespread damage from Bonnie in
North Carolina and Virginia. Total U.S. damage is estimated to be $720 million.
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Bonnie Hurricane Research Division Products
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Imagery
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Tracking Data
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Hurricane Bonnie
Time Lat Lon Wind(mph) Pressure Storm type
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12 GMT 08/19/98 14.7N 48.1W 30 1009 Tropical Depression
18 GMT 08/19/98 15.4N 50.1W 35 1009 Tropical Depression
0 GMT 08/20/98 16.2N 52.2W 35 1009 Tropical Depression
6 GMT 08/20/98 16.9N 54.7W 35 1008 Tropical Depression
12 GMT 08/20/98 17.3N 57.3W 40 1007 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 08/20/98 18.2N 59.6W 40 1006 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 08/21/98 18.7N 61.3W 45 1005 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 08/21/98 19.1N 62.9W 50 1002 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 08/21/98 19.5N 64.5W 60 1000 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 08/21/98 20.3N 65.9W 65 999 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 08/22/98 21.1N 67.3W 75 991 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 08/22/98 21.8N 68.7W 80 989 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 08/22/98 22.3N 69.8W 85 980 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 08/22/98 23.0N 70.5W 100 970 Category 2 Hurricane
0 GMT 08/23/98 23.4N 71.0W 105 962 Category 2 Hurricane
6 GMT 08/23/98 23.8N 71.3W 110 960 Category 2 Hurricane
12 GMT 08/23/98 24.1N 71.5W 115 958 Category 3 Hurricane
18 GMT 08/23/98 24.4N 71.7W 115 955 Category 3 Hurricane
0 GMT 08/24/98 24.8N 71.8W 115 954 Category 3 Hurricane
6 GMT 08/24/98 25.2N 72.1W 115 960 Category 3 Hurricane
12 GMT 08/24/98 25.6N 72.4W 115 962 Category 3 Hurricane
18 GMT 08/24/98 26.1N 72.8W 115 962 Category 3 Hurricane
0 GMT 08/25/98 26.9N 73.2W 115 963 Category 3 Hurricane
6 GMT 08/25/98 27.8N 73.8W 115 962 Category 3 Hurricane
12 GMT 08/25/98 28.8N 74.7W 115 963 Category 3 Hurricane
18 GMT 08/25/98 29.8N 75.6W 115 963 Category 3 Hurricane
0 GMT 08/26/98 30.8N 76.4W 115 958 Category 3 Hurricane
6 GMT 08/26/98 31.7N 77.3W 115 964 Category 3 Hurricane
12 GMT 08/26/98 32.7N 77.8W 115 965 Category 3 Hurricane
18 GMT 08/26/98 33.4N 77.8W 115 962 Category 3 Hurricane
0 GMT 08/27/98 34.0N 77.7W 110 963 Category 2 Hurricane
6 GMT 08/27/98 34.5N 77.5W 100 965 Category 2 Hurricane
12 GMT 08/27/98 34.9N 77.1W 85 974 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 08/27/98 35.4N 76.6W 70 980 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 08/28/98 35.8N 75.9W 75 983 Category 1 Hurricane
6 GMT 08/28/98 36.2N 75.1W 85 985 Category 1 Hurricane
12 GMT 08/28/98 36.7N 74.3W 75 990 Category 1 Hurricane
18 GMT 08/28/98 37.3N 73.2W 70 991 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 08/29/98 38.3N 71.4W 50 993 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 08/29/98 39.2N 69.6W 50 999 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 08/29/98 40.2N 67.8W 50 999 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 08/29/98 41.6N 64.8W 50 1000 Tropical Storm
0 GMT 08/30/98 42.9N 61.5W 50 1000 Tropical Storm
6 GMT 08/30/98 44.3N 57.0W 50 1000 Tropical Storm
12 GMT 08/30/98 44.5N 53.5W 50 1000 Tropical Storm
18 GMT 08/30/98 44.0N 50.0W 50 998 Extratropical Storm
0 GMT 08/31/98 44.0N 45.0W 50 996 Extratropical Storm
6 GMT 08/31/98 43.0N 41.0W 45 996 Extratropical Storm
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Tracking maps courtesy of NHC
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Selected Hurricane Research Division Image
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Selected Satellite Image
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